Means for fastening material to structural iron framework



April 1953 A. B. HAMMITT ET AL 2,634,832

MEANS FOR FASTENING MATERIAL TO STRUCTURAL IRON FRAMEWORK Filed Aug. 13, 1948 INVENTORS: ANDREW B. HAMMITT 1351231327 L. BIRUM, Jk,

A TTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1953 MEANS FOR FASTENING MATERIAL TO STRUCTURAL IRON FRAMEWORK Andrew B. Hammitt and Herbert L. Birum, Jr., Trenton, N. J.

Application August 13, 1948, Serial No. 44,024

4 Claims.

This invention relates to fastening means for securing sheet material to the structural framework of a building, and is directed particularly to constructions for use in securing corrugated sheets of cement asbestos material to structural iron framework.

One of the most common forms of fastening 'J A toe clip orwith the framework element and to draw the a sheet material into firm engagement with the opposite side of the framework. Constructions of this type are objectionable because the projecting inner end of the bolt interferes with the stacking of goods close to the walls of the building. In fact, such projecting bolts present a serious hazard to anyone passing close to the walls and frequently tear clothing or injure persons.

The bolts themselves may be bent or broken by heavy boxes, or hand trucks which are moved up against the inside walls of the building. Prior constructions are also objectionable because of their unattractive appearance and the difficulty encountered in painting over surfaces from which such bolts project.

Moreover, the toe clip or other member which engages the framework does not engage the sheet material and therefore does not always insurea tight construction. This is particularly true when the framework element i wide and relatively long bolts are employed to span the framework. Such bolts are easily bent or may be laterally displaced on the framework by a careless worker. The toe clip or hook-shaped member engaged by the bolt also tends to bend into a titlted position when the sheet material is drawn up tight resulting in a loose or weakened con-,

' struction.

means wherein the bolts used in securing sheet material to a framework are hidden or protected by the framework itself. Those elements which engage the framework present a smooth and preferably flat exposed surface which lies closely adjacent the inner surfaces of the framework. The fastening means of the present invention further include means which are engageable with both the framework and the sheet material and are so formed that the strength and rigidity of the assembly is increased as the element is drawn more firmly into place.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide novel fastening means for securing sheet material tostructural iron framework of a building which are neat and attractive in appearance and eliminate dangerous or undesired projections on the interior of the building.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel type of fastening means which is engageable with both the framework and a sheet of material in a manner to insure firm contact therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide fastening means for sheet material wherein the operation of tightening the element serves to increase the strength and rigidity thereof.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will appear from the following description thereof in which reference is made to the figures of the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a building framework and sheet material having a typical form of fastening means embodying the present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of a portion of a building framework and sheet material embodying the construction illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 1 taken on the line 33.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through a framework element and sheet material illustrating an alternative form and application of the present invention.

In that form of the invention chosen for purposes of illustration in Figs. 1 to 3, the sheet material is indicated at 2 and is secured to the outer face of a framework element 4 which as shown is in the form of a downwardly facing channel iron. The outer flange 6 of the channel iron 4 is engaged by the inner extremities of the convolutions of the corrugated sheet material 2. The web 8 of the channel iron faces upwardly whereas the inner flange ID of the element 4 is spaced inward from the flange 6 and extends downward.

The fastening means of the present invention embodies an element l2 provided at its inner extremity with a hook-shaped portion IA of such 3 size and shape that it will extend inward and upward behind the lower edge [6 of the flange I while the portion l thereof lies flat against the inner face of flange ID of the element 4. The part 18 of the fastening element extends outward from portion l5 and is also flat and formed to bear against .thel upper face of the'w'eb s ofthe structural element 4. The part [8 preferably extends outward to a point adjacent the outer face of the flange 6 and then extends upward at right angles to present a bolt receiving portion2'fl provided with an opening 22 throughwhich'aibolt'24 is passed. The end of the element [2 which cextends above the upper edge of the bolt receiving portion 28 is inclined outward as shown at 25 into position to be brought into engagemenfiwithtlie inner face of the sheet 2 as the nut 28"isdrawn up on bolt 24. The end 25 preferably has an edge which presents corners-3i] that are relatively sharp and tend to 'diginto' 'the. sheet material as the nut 23 is tightened.

' Thefouter ehd of the-bolt 24 is provided with a h'ea'd' 32 which bears against a washer 3s. The washer, in'turn, is'fpi'essed against a sealing member fififormed' of lead or other malleable ordeformable material'forsealing the opening 38 in the sheet material through which the bolt 24 extends. A a As shown in Figs; 2' and 3,the fastening element i2 is preferably in theform of a flat strip of metal and the corners'tt of the inclined end 's therefore. dig into thesheet material in a manner to prevent undesiredbendingof the bolt receiving portionzii even when'the nut 23 is drawn up forcibly along the bolt 2G. The element engages both the sheet material? and the structural elemenus whereby all looseness due to bending or displacement of the bolt is eliminated. The flat surfaces thereof insure contact with the framework over an'e'xten'dd -area and aid in seating thefasteni'ngf'element b'y conforming to the surfaces engaged. Furthermore the fastening elenientsmaybe made in any of various sizes to permit. application'there'of to different sizes of structural iron while using the same 'bblts throughout the assembly.

"serted' through theo'pen'ing 38 in the sheet material 2 and the inner end of thebolt is passed through the opening" 22 in'the'bolt receiving portion 26 of the fastening element. NuirZB-is applied to the bolt Hand is drawn up tightly to pull the sheet material 2 inward against the outer face of the flange 6 of-the structural element. At'the same time inclined end portion 25 is forcedoutward until the corners'fiii' thereof are causedto engage the inner faceof thesheet' materialin a manner to support' the upper edge of the bolt receiving portion 20.

With this construction the bolt receiving portion/2i and the' inner end'of bolt 2:3 are spaced .out'ardfrom't'heinner-face of th flange i-ilof thestructural' element. They are thus hidden or .protectedfrom injury and dangerous projections are'eliminatedsothatthey will not interfere with the stacking or movement of goods close to the tenin'gf means the bolt serves to draw :the portion l5 -and hook-shaped end It tightly against the framework so as to cause the element to substan- 'tially conform to the surfaces it engages insuring flrm. contact therewith. At the same time, when nut ZS-is-draWnup against the bolt receiving porheme theedge SE of the inclined end 25 is pressed 1 againstfitheiirmer face of the sheet 2. The portion 26 then serves to support the upper edge of portion 20 and holds it in place. Thereafter further tightening of nut 28 tends to force the flat; part I8 which is connected to the lower edge of portion 29 in a direction downward into firm engagement-with the upper face of webS of elemerit-'4. Such downward movement of portion '18 is-increased by any bending of the extremity 26 about itscorners 3%. In this way, the fastening element isseated securely in place and it is strengthened as the bolt is tightened. In actual practice it is found that the nut may actually be drawn-up with suificient force to crack the cement asbestos sheet material Without producing any distortions or bending of-the fastening element which would seriously weaken the assembly. The sheet material therefore may be secured in place with sufficient force to insure the most effective and attachment thereof to the framework.

-An important feature of the present construction is the obtuseangularity of the end portion '26 with respect to the bolt receiving portion 20. .Such angularity not only tendsto draw the portion- It down againstthe upper face of the web :4 of elementB as mentioned above but provides a strengthening of the unit by resisting turning moments between the portion 28 and the part 18. 'As distinct from a rightangular bend which wouldprovidefor right angular abutmentwith the material lending no support to the material andwhich-would' tend to buckle under the por- :tion'2B toapply the full load of the bolt strain atthe juncture of portions 20 and 18, the present obtuse angularity'acts to provide anacute biting angularity of engagement of the end with the material and resists any bending moment between the portions l8 and 20. -It will of course be observedthat as the bolt is tightened the whole assembly is tensioned and that, the tightening force-tends to bend back the bolt receiving por-v .tion 20 against the flat portion I2 while the direct pressure of the nut tends to bend such portion outwardly. Obviously such forces react and neutralize 'to effect a resultant strength at this otherwise vulnerable bend in the fastener.

- in thatiformpf the invention illustrated in FigJAQ aimodified: shape of fastening element is employedfor use insecuring sheet material to an angle iron type of structural framework element. In this construction the inner hookshaped end'40 of the fastening element 42'extends about-the inner edge illof the inwardly extending flange 46 of the structural iron framewo'rk elementili. The'flat part 50 of the fastening-element extends across the upperface of the flange 46 to the outer face of the downwardly turned'fiange 52 of theangle iron framework element. The bolt'receiving portion 54 and the inclined end 56 of the fastening element are "similar in construction and function to the portionsimland" 26 of'thetypje of fastening element illustratedin"Fi'gs.'1"to 3. "Thebolt fl and the nut 28 of this assembly are identical with those employed when using the fastening element 12 of Fig. 1. It is thus possible to use the same nuts and bolts throughout while using difierent types of fastening elements in the roof or siding of a building. In each case the fastening element is brought into firm, rigid engagement with both the structural element and the sheet material and the bolt is supported in a manner which prevents tilting or bending of the bolt, or undesired relative movement of the sheet material with respect to the framework.

While typical forms of fastening elements and assemblies embodying the present invention have been illustrated in the drawing and described above for the purposes of indicating the nature of the present invention, it will nevertheless be apparent that the form, construction and arrangement of the elements employed may be varied considerably in adapting and using the present invention in connection with other types, sizes and shapes of structural iron framework or sheet material. In view thereof it should be understood that the particular embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawing are intended to be illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A building embodying a structural iron framework element with sheet material applied thereto and secured in place by means of a bolt and a fastening element, said fastening element being formed of resilient material provided on one end with a hook-shaped portion engaging the framework element and formed on the other end with a bolt receiving portion presenting an outwardly directed obtusely inclined extremity engaging the inner face of the sheet material at an acute angle and holding said bolt receiving portion in a position substantially parallel to the sheet material, said bolt passing through the sheet material and bolt receiving portion of the fastening element, and a nut on the bolt engaging the bolt receiving portion and forcibly urging the fastening element into engagement with the sheet material and framework element whereby the bolt is assisted in its support of the material by the acute engagement of the material by said extremity and whereby said extremity will resist outward bending moments of the bolt receiving portion.

2. A building embodying a structural iron framework element with corrugated sheet material applied thereto, said framework element having a flange spaced from the sheet material, a fastening element formed of resilient metal having a hook shaped portion embracing said flange, a body portion to which said hook shaped portion is connected extending over a face of the framework element toward the sheet material, the end of the body portion adjacent the sheet material extending at right angles to the body portion and having a bolt receiving opening therein, an extremity of said right angularly extending portion being obtusely inclined outward beyond the framework and into one of the corrugations in the sheet material so as to engage the inner surface of the sheet material at an acute angle, a bolt extending through the sheet material and through said opening in the right angularly extending portion, and a nut engaging the bolt and the right angularly extending portion serving to urge the hook shaped portion into clamping engagement with said flange and to urge said extremity of the right angularly extending portion into bracing engagement with the sheet material whereby the bolt is assisted in its support of the material by the acute engagement of the material by said extremity and whereby said extremity will resist outward bending moments of the bolt receiving portion.

3. Means for securing sheet material to the structural framework of a building comprising a member formed of resilient material and provided at one end with a hook-shaped portion for engagement with an element of a building framework and having a fiat portion connected to said hook-shaped portion for engagement with a surface of said element, said member being provided with a bolt receiving portion extending substantially at right angles to said flat portion and having an opening therein for receiving a bolt, the opposite end of said member projecting at an obtuse inclination from the bolt receiving portion and away from said hook-shaped portion so that when said member is applied to a framework element and secured in place by a bolt passing through a sheet of material adjacent said element and through said opening in the bolt receiving portion of the member said opposite end will be urged outward and upward against the sheet material in a manner to aid in supporting the sheet material and will at the same time oppose outward bending of the bolt receiving portion when the bolt is tightened in securing the sheet material, member and framework element together in assembled relation.

4. Means for securing sheet material to the structural framework of a building comprising a flat strip of resilient metal formed on one end with a hook-shaped portion for engagement with an element of the building framework and having a flat portion adjacent to said hook-shaped portion for engagement with a surface of said element, said strip being provided with a bolt receiving portion extending substantially at right angles to said flat portion and having an opening therein for receiving a bolt, the opposite end of said strip extending at an outward obtuse inclination from the upper extremity of the bolt receiving portion and in a direction away from the hook-shaped end of the strip so that when said member is applied to a framework element and secured in place by a bolt passing through a sheet of material adjacent said element and through said opening in the bolt receiving portion of the member said opposite end will be urged outward and upward against the sheet material in a manner to aid in supporting the sheet material and will at the same time oppose outward bending of the bolt receiving portion when the bolt is tightened in securing the sheet material, member and framework element together in assembled relation.

ANDREW B. HAMMITT. HERBERT L. BIRUM, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,499,398 Myers July 1, 1924 1,606,509 Campbell Nov. 9, 1926 1,735,770 Marliere Nov. 12, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 779,483 France 1935 

